9 Sep 2009

Honeywell recently held the first in a series of Trained Specifier Certification Seminars at Wembley Stadium
Honeywell recently held the first in a series of Trained Specifier Certification Seminars at Wembley Stadium in North London. The seminars are part of a new initiative which will see Honeywell work closely with industry consultants, providing ongoing learning opportunities and equipping them with the tools and knowledge required to be successful. They also aim to develop relationships and provide insight into applications for new security technologies such as IP and intelligent video analytics. The opening seminar was attended by 19 consultants from across the country, representing a wide spectrum, from independent companies to large organisations.

The day-long programme, held in Honeywell's corporate box, was kicked off by Vineet Nargolwala, MD of Honeywell Systems Group, EMEA who provided an outline of Honeywell's business strategy. Following this, Mike Holbrow, GM of Networks Division, Honeywell Building Solutions, EMEA gave attendees an overview of Honeywell's work to make Wembley safer, more secure and more energy efficient. He then highlighted the Honeywell solutions installed at Wembley, including Building Management Solutions (heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting, lifts, telephones), Life and Safety Management Solutions (fire detection and alarm systems, PA system, CCTV, access control and turnstiles) and Data, Voice and Video Solutions (scoreboards, broadcast systems, wireless networking, press internet access).

Once the opening presentations were completed, the delegates attended four training sessions covering emerging security technology and applications, which were:

  • IP Video Solutions - This session outlined the benefits of IP solutions, including discussions on the migration path of analogue to digital systems, IP codecs (including H.264) and megapixel cameras
  • Video Analytics - An overview of Honeywell Active Alert® video analytics package and how to enhance security solutions using analytics technology
  • Integrated Video, Access & Intruder Solutions - A presentation on the integration of Honeywell's new MAXPRO™ Video Management System and NVR Video Management solution with the popular ProWatch® access control security system
  • Logical & Physical Access Control Convergence - An exploration of physical / logical convergence in security and the benefits achievable by using electronic access control systems and cards to manage access to corporate networks and IT applications

Delegates were then taken on a guided tour of the Wembley control room by Steve Rolston, the stadium's onsite control room operations manager, who provided a walkthrough of the sophisticated security operation and described measures needed to keep such a large site secure at all times.

Finally, the day concluded with an official guided tour of Wembley Stadium. Attendees felt the day was a good investment of time. Here is what some of them had to say:

Honeywell seminars aim to develop relationships and provide insight into applications for new security technologies

"Attending the Honeywell Trained Specifier Certification Seminar was time well spent. The overview of the Honeywell product line up, and insight into Honeywell's convergence model was most enlightening and will assist our consultancy practice in providing our clients with unbiased, real world advisement to security technology integration to an overall security blueprint that is as future proof as possible, sustainable and above all, financially viable through whole life cycle," said Alf Gother, Consulting Engineer - Security Technologies SGW Security Consulting.

"The seminar demonstrated both the depth of Honeywell's product offering and strong commitment to improving the level of expertise in the Security industry. The Honeywell Trained Specifier Programme is a recognition of the importance of an informed specifier to the design process. We look forward to using future technical sessions to augment our engineers training and ultimately improve the service we provide our Clients," said Hannah George BE(Hons) PgDipBusAdmin MIET, Senior Communications & Security Engineer.

"As an independent consultant, it is reassuring to know that manufacturers such as Honeywell are providing the means to keep up with developments in the industry in a structured and comprehensive manner. This well organised and informative day was supplemented with an open dialogue that can only be healthy for all in the security industry, and will be underpinned now with a structured path of further learning," said Bob Martin JP CPP MSyI, RFMSolutions Limited.

The next Honeywell Trained Specifier Seminar will take place in October. Further details will be announced in due course. If you would like further information on Honeywell and the Trained Specifier Seminar programme, please visit the Honeywell website.